Logging bunk for railway cars and other vehicles



Se t. 14, 1 T. o. HENRIKSON LOGGING BUNK FOR RAILWAY CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 21 1951 INVENTOR a /mz/zown/ ATTORNEY Sept. 14, 1954 T. o. HENRIKSON LOGGING BUNK FOR RAILWAY CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 21, 1951 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 14, 1954 LOGGING BUNK FOR RAILWAY CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES Thor 0. Henrikson, Seattle, Wash., assignor to Pacific Car and Wash.

Foundry Company, Renton,

Application December 21, 1951, Serial No. 262,759

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in logging bunks for railway cars and other vehicles.

The object of the invention is to construct means within a conventional bunk body whereby one or both of the stakes will be returned to its vertical position by virtue of a spring assembly, the spring assembly being so constructed and arranged as to permit its use within the present limitations of a bunk structure whereby the load space remains at its maximum without external projections to interfere with structures common to an unloading dump for logs. The stake and spring structure is equally applicable in new or modified bunks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spring loaded stake which can be released to swing to its lower position against the tension of a spring by the operation of mechanism at the opposite side of the bunk.

More specifically the invention comprehends the use of a spiral compound spring formed from a single strip into concentric coils, with the spring anchor formed as an extremity of the inner coil and the torsion arm formed from the extremity of the outer coil, both the anchor and the torsion arm being at the same end of the device.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly hereinafter appear by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a log bunk with the present invention incorporated in the assembly;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating the stake in its lowered or unloading position;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the spring assemy;

Fig. 5 is an elevation partly in section showing the hinge pin structure; and

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the disclosure of Fig. 5.

The bunk assembly includes the side bulb angles I and 2 and the I-beam top connecting structure 3. The bunk assembly, as best shown in elevation in Fig. 1, illustrates a fixed stake 4 at one end of the bunk structure and the hinged stake 5 at the other end of said structure, the latter having the chain keeper A and chain in a, although the bunk can be equipped with two hinged stakes. I

The hinged stake 5 is shown fabricated from plate metal with the spaced ears 6 and I depending therefrom, and these ears are provided with aligned openings through which the hinge pin shown in Fig. 5 extends. The ears are normally positioned so that their outer faces are substantially flush with the inner faces of the bulb angle side wall members I and 2, these side members I and 2 being perforated at diametrically opposite points, with the perforations of a diameter corresponding to the openings provided in the ears 6 and I of the stake, whereby the passageways in the ears and in the side walls will provide an aligned opening through these parts of uniform diameter. Fixed to the outer faces of the side walls I and 2 as by welding are the bearing collars 8 and 9, these bearing collars being formed with passages corresponding in diameter to the passages in the side walls I and 2 and in the ears 6 and I and having their passages aligned with the openings in the parts mentioned, to provide increased bearing surface for the stake pivot pin at its point of intersection with these parts.

The stake pin is best shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and is formed to include a main pin body I0 of maximum diameter and a reduced portion as defined by the annular shoulder I4. The reduced portion of the pin is bifurcated throughout its length by a slot I I, which slot extends medially and longitudinally of the pin structure and for a substantial distance into the main thickened portion. III, forming the legs b and c of the pin structure. For the purpose of forming the pin of uniform diameter throughout its working structure the reduced portion is enlarged to conform to the diameter of the main body In by the use of bushing I2. The thickness of the bushing I2 is such as to increase the reduced portion of the pin to the diameter of the main body of the pin indicated at I0 and the arrangement of the collar about the reduced portion closes one end of the slot I I to the extent defined by the length of the bushing I2, but leaves the inner end of the slot I I fully open and defining a transverse opening entirely through the main body of the pin for the anchorage of the spring, as will be more clearly hereinafter described. It will be noted that due to the length of the main :body ID of the pin, the transverse opening II is located inwardly of the face of ear 6 and that the bushing I2 which floats in its bearing forms that portion of the bearing part of the pin associated with the ear 6 and with the collar 8. This construction provides a pin of uniform diameter except for that portion which projects outwardly of the bearing collar 8, where the reduced portion of the pin projects and is assopin is provided of uniform diameter ciated with the filler block arranged in the end of the slot and secured in place by the transverse pin it. As the result of this structure a stake throughout the working surfaces, including the medial portion about which the spring is positioned. The structure also permits the manufacture of the part with a minimum amount of machining and produces a pivot pin having all the required characteristics and features necessary to accommodate the associated spring during assembly and use. The slot H is provided with a substantial longitudinal beveled face I8 which includes a portion of the leg c of the pin to permit proper seating of the coil part to be associated therewith. Bevel I8 is a slight chamfer to remove burr from the machining operation. Obviously the transverse slot l l positions the spring anchor arm e in abutting relation to the inner face of the ear 6 of the stake and assures against slippage and displacement during operation and particularly during tensioning of the spring as will more clearly hereinafter appear. 7

The outer end of the main body ll) of the pin is provided with an inner series of transverse openings 2i) and an outer series of transverse openings 2 l, the inner series of openings being adapted for registration with similar openings 22 in the bearing 9 for the reception of the lock bolt or pin 23, while the outer series of transverse openings 2i are adapted to be engaged by a suitable tool for the rotation of the pin in tensioning the spring.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the present structure is designed for use with a novel type of spring, including inner and outer concentric coils E and F, the two coils being formed from a continuous strip of spring steel with the inner terminal of the inner coil e extending transversely of the coil structure and substantially across the diameter of the inner coil so that this end of the coil may be received into the inner closed end l i of slot 1 l. The outer free end of the outer coil shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, extends upwardly for a substantial distance and is bent outwardly at f to provide the arcuate bearing face g which abuts against the inner face of the inner wall 5 of the stake to normally exert pressure in the direction of the arrow K of Fig. 3 to tend to urge and maintain the stake in its vertical position as shown in dotted lines at 7c in the same figure. The provision of both terminals of the spring at the same end of the spring structure obviously facilitates assembly and permits transmission of the entire spring energy to the operating arm f and provides substantial free length of spring within limited space. Also by the structure shown, the spring is contained within the limits of the stake structure and valuable space is saved and previous tolerances and limits maintained.

In assembling the present device the side walls I and 2 of the bunk structure are provided with aligned openings for the reception of the pin indicated generally by reference character i0. With the bunk walls so formed, the stake 5 is positioned with the ears 6 and 1 arranged with their openings in alignment with the openings in the side walls of'the bunk body. It is to be understood that the bearing collars 8 and 9 have previously been secured as by welding to the outer faces of the side walls I and 2 to materially increase the bearing area available for cooperation with the stake pin assembly. During the insertion of the pin, the spring shown in Fig. 4 is positioned on the pin between the ears 6 and l of the stake, the

inner free end of the spring 6 being arranged in the slot ll formed in the pin assembly and the outer free end of the spring assembly facing inwardly and abutting against the inner longitudinal wall 5 of the stake structure. With the parts so assembled, the stake pin is rotated towards the center of thebunk until the correct amount of tension is obtained in the spring to cause the stake to move from lower position to upper position with the required tension for maintaining the same in the latter position. When suitable tension is applied to the spring the stake pin is locked by means of the pin or bolt 23 which extends through any of the bearing openings '22 and through aligned openings in the pin body at 20 as heretofore described. It will be understood that the filler I5 is positioned between the outer ends of the bifurcatedpin extensions 19 and c and secured in place by the cross pin 16 as best shown in Fig. 2 in order to maintain the stake pin structure substantially solid throughout its entire length and from the outer face of the bearing 8 to the opposite end of the pin structure. Filler block 15 has at least the same length, and could be longer, than the diameter of bushing l2 and is used to hold bushing l2 in place as well as to prevent the collapse of the slotted portion of pin it. In Fig. 3 the stake is shown in lowered position and it is from this position that the tension is applied tothe spring to such a degree as to position the sta :e in upright or dotted line position as shown, and the spring is then under minimum stress and the stake held in position by the chain or cable in its locked position which absorbs the total force imposed by the load on the bunk.

It will be noted that the spring is wound in two coils which facilitates sufiicient free length of spring within limited space to allow the stake to be lowered to its extreme low position. By providing the present structure, and particularly by providing the concentric unitary multiple coil structure, it is possible to confine the parts well within the transverse diameter of the stake which prevents undesirable projections beyond the free end of the bunk and permits usage of the entire clearance between the stakes of the bunk structure for the load. In previous efforts to construct devices of the general type shown in the instant application it has been necessary to include considerable bulk which projects a substantial distance beyond the end of the bunk when the maximum length of the bunk is to be utilized for the load. If the mechanism is contained within the limits of the bunk, then the previous structures were of such character that a great deal of the space between the bunks is taken up, this obviously reducing the space load and also tending to place the parts in position for damage and interference during use of the device.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a bunk body including spaced side walls, a stake structure adapted for hinged mounting between said spaced walls, said stake structure including depending ears formed with aligned openings and adapted for abutting arrangement within and against said walls, bearing collars fixed to the outer faces of said spaced walls, a bore formed through said bearing collars and said side walls for alignment with the openings in said stake ears for the reception of a hinge pin, said hinge pin including a body arranged in said bore, said body being provided with a transverse opening at a point normally positioned inward of one of said ears, a longitudinal slot formed in the pin and extending between said transverse opening and one end of said pin, and a multiple coil spring arranged on said pin between said ears, said multiple coil spring including spiral concentric coils, the inner coil terminating in a transverse anchor arm adapted to seat in said transverse opening, the outer coil terminating in an elongated arm adapted for engagement against one wall of the stake to normally urge said stake to its upright position when said coil is tensioned, and means carried by one of said bearings and engaging said pin to lock the same against rotation.

2. In a log bunk including spaced side walls, a stake structure having depending spaced ears confined wholly within said side walls, a hinge pin extending through said walls and through said ears for pivotally supporting said stake structure, means for locking said pin against rotation, and a compound coil spring mounted on said pin and having both of its extremities terminating adjacent the inner face of one of said ears, one of said spring extremities being anchored to said pin and the other of said extremities projecting upwardly and engaging said stake substantially above said bunk walls to normally urge said stake to vertical position.

3. The structure of claim 2 characterized in that bearings are supported outside of the bunk walls, and the outer end portions of the pivot pin are mounted in said bearings.

4. The structure of claim 2 characterized in that the pivot pin is formed with a bifurcated portion, and a collar is mounted about the bifurcated portion outwardly of the inner end of the bifurcation to provide a transverse passageway through said pin for the reception of one end of said spring.

5. The structure of claim 2 characterized in that the coil spring is formed from a single piece of coil spring steel and includes inner and outer concentric coils, the extremities of which both terminate at one end of the spring structure.

6. The structure of claim 2 characterized in that the pivot pin is fabricated with a slotted end portion to facilitate the insertion of the pin through the spring during assembly and to provide a seat adjacent the Wall defining the end of the slot for one extremity of the spring.

7. The structure of claim 2 characterized in that thepivot pin isformed with a reduced bifurcated end portion and the slot forming the bifurcation is partially enclosed by a bushing, said bushing being spaced from the inner end of the reduced portion of the pivot pin to provide a transverse through passageway in the pin which anchors one end of said spring.

8. In a log bunk structure, a pair of spaced walls, a pivot pin mounted for rotation in said walls, a stake member having depending ears confined substantially entirely within said bunk and hingedly mounted on said pivot pin, additional bearing collars for the outer end portions of said pivot pin fixed to the outer faces of the bunk walls, transverse passageways through one of said hearing collars and said pin saiol passageways being capable of registration by relative movement between said pivot pin and said bearing collar, a member extending through said registering passageways for locking the pin against rotation, and a coil spring mounted on said pivot pin, said spring being horizontally spiraled and including an anchor end and a stake engaging end, said stake engaging end extending substantially outwardly of the bunk structure for engaging the stake at a point spaced from the bunk walls for normally urging said stake to a vertical position.

No references cited. 

